Amman — Jordan’s economic activity base is gradually broadening as more sectors contribute to growth, exports and investment continue to expand, and new opportunities emerge in energy, transport, logistics and technology. The indicators point to a shift toward a more diversified and interconnected economy, although consolidating this trend will require stronger growth sustainability, higher productivity and expanded employment opportunities.
This diversification extends beyond traditional productive sectors such as industry and agriculture to include financial and digital services, renewable energy and natural gas, transport, water and infrastructure. Remittances from Jordanians working abroad also remain an important source of income supporting domestic demand and economic activity.
Economists say the significance of these developments lies not only in the growth of individual sectors, but also in the economic links between them. Industrial expansion increases demand for transport, energy, financing and services, while infrastructure investment improves production efficiency and reduces costs. Exports expand markets for Jordanian products, while technology helps raise productivity in existing activities and creates new areas for investment.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, experts said current indicators are consistent with the objectives of the Economic Modernization Vision, which focuses on expanding the productive base, developing high-value-added sectors, increasing exports and investment, and improving productivity and employment. They stressed that the challenge is to turn multiple sources of growth into a sustainable path that translates into stronger economic performance, more jobs and improved living standards.
Jordan’s economy recorded real growth of 3% in the second quarter of this year, driven by contributions from several economic activities, including agriculture, manufacturing, electricity and water, as well as trade, transport, financial services and information technology.
According to economists, these results reflect a broader and more diversified growth base, reducing reliance on a single economic activity and creating opportunities for stronger-performing sectors to offset potential declines in others.
In foreign trade, national exports increased by 4.6% during the first seven months of the year to JD5.509 billion, while re-exports surged by 67.2% to JD886 million. As a result, total exports rose by 10.3% to JD6.395 billion.
Diah: Industry, Mining and Energy Open New Growth Paths
Economic expert Munir Diah said recent indicators reflect the diversity of Jordan’s economic base and its multiple growth drivers, pointing to second-quarter results showing contributions from several sectors to the 3% economic growth rate.
He said economic activity is not concentrated in a single sector, but is distributed across a range of activities that contribute to gross domestic product at varying levels. This strengthens the economy’s ability to withstand external shocks and allows other sectors to compensate for part of a decline affecting a particular activity.
Diah noted that several productive sectors have recorded growth and increased contributions to economic activity, particularly manufacturing, including pharmaceutical, food, clothing and textile industries, as well as mining and phosphate, potash and fertilizer industries.
He cited the rise in national exports and their record levels as evidence of a diversified productive base, noting that the variety of exported products indicates the presence of several industries capable of accessing foreign markets rather than relying on a single commodity or industry.
In the energy sector, Diah highlighted opportunities arising from the expansion of renewable energy, natural gas and oil shale, as well as projects related to green hydrogen and green ammonia. Developing these areas could increase the energy sector’s contribution to economic activity and enhance the competitiveness of productive sectors.
He stressed that major projects, particularly in water, transport, railways, energy and gas, could become additional growth drivers in the coming years by improving infrastructure, lowering operating costs and creating a more favorable environment for investment and production.
In this regard, he said developing transport networks, railways and Aqaba Port could strengthen Jordan’s position as a regional logistics hub for transportation, shipping and transit. He noted that increased transit trade and higher cargo handling at Aqaba Port point to opportunities that could be leveraged to expand the contribution of transport and logistics services to GDP.
Diah also stressed the importance of the National Water Carrier Project in strengthening water security and supporting economic activities by providing more reliable supplies, alongside the role of natural gas projects in enhancing production competitiveness.
He added that the diversity of productive and service sectors, the variety of products and markets, and major infrastructure projects provide a foundation for expanding investment and increasing the contribution of new activities to GDP.
Al-Hamouri: Industry, Electricity and Investment Are Key Components
Economics professor Qasem Al-Hamouri said economic activity indicators show multiple growth drivers, highlighting the importance of industry, investment and electricity, alongside remittances from Jordanians working abroad, in supporting national economic activity.
He said the industrial sector has expanded in recent years, with activity extending into new industries rather than remaining limited to traditional areas. He pointed to continued growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing and its success in reaching new foreign markets.
The importance of industry, he said, goes beyond its contribution to GDP, as it also creates employment and stimulates demand for production inputs, transport and services, extending its economic impact to other sectors.
Regarding electricity, Al-Hamouri said developments related to electricity interconnections with neighboring countries warrant specialized economic study, given the sector’s growing role within the energy system and its contribution to economic activity.
On investment, he said there are indications of expanding investment activity, particularly in development zones, alongside growth in the number of businesses, establishments and commercial registrations.
He called for these indicators to be assessed in a balanced manner, noting that growth in new investments and establishments is, in some cases, accompanied by a decline in the number of other establishments, although on a limited scale. This requires monitoring the net change in economic activity and the sustainability of newly established businesses.
Regarding remittances from workers abroad, Al-Hamouri said they remain one of the drivers of economic activity, calling for continued analysis of their impact on growth and domestic demand alongside other sources of income, investment and production.
Al-Sarhan: Growth Is Becoming More Diverse, but Sustainability Is the Test
Economic expert Mohammad Al-Hadab Al-Sarhan said second-quarter 2026 data indicate the beginning of a gradual transition toward a broader economic base, while stressing that it is too early to consider the transformation complete.
He said the 3% economic growth rate did not result from a single activity. Agriculture grew by 7.8%, manufacturing by 6.2%, electricity by 5% and water by 4.1%, while trade, transport, financial services and information technology also grew by more than 3%.
Al-Sarhan said multiple sources of growth strengthen the economy’s ability to withstand shocks and reduce the risks associated with dependence on a single sector, particularly when contributions are distributed across productive and service activities that differ in nature, markets and sources of demand.
He added that trade, investment and employment indicators support this trend. Total exports increased during the first seven months of the year, while investment in development zones rose during the first half. Employment in those zones increased by around 6,000 workers, approaching 123,000.
Development zones also recorded 46 new projects with expected investments of around JD402 million, compared with 27 projects worth nearly JD60 million during the same period last year.
According to Al-Sarhan, simultaneous improvements in production, exports, investment and employment provide a broader picture of economic activity than simply examining the growth rate for a single period. However, he said these indicators still need to be monitored to determine whether they can be sustained and translated into tangible gains in production and employment.
He said the most significant shift in the structure of the economy is the expansion of growth opportunities across multiple sectors, from industry and agriculture to digital, financial and logistics services and energy. Industrial expansion supports transport and financial services, investment in energy can reduce production costs, while technology raises the productivity of traditional activities and exports open wider markets for Jordanian companies.
Al-Sarhan said the priorities of the Economic Modernization Vision are aligned with this direction, focusing on high-value industries, information technology, cybersecurity and creative industries, transport and logistics, energy and mining, tourism, as well as agriculture and food security.
Source: Al-Ghad
